WALTER: I’m lucky you decided to spend your life with a lump like me. (Beat) ’Specially when you could have had a tennis pro.

MARJORIE: Oh you know about that?

WALTER: World number eight!

MARJORIE: I shoulda gone for it.

WALTER: World number eight and French!

MARJORIE (Not as good): French-Canadian.

(He smiles at her. Jon comes in, followed by Tess. They don’t seem to see Walter, who remains silent, not focusing on their conversation. Suspended somehow.)

Ah, where did you come from?

JON: I was just here a few minutes ago. Remember?

MARJORIE (She doesn’t): Oh yes.

JON: I’m the one who put the music on?

TESS: Are you feeling better, Mom? (She turns off the music) You were quite the hit at the ER.

MARJORIE: Was I?

TESS: You always are. I’m sorry to say it’s Shower Day.

MARJORIE (Grim): That I remember.

TESS: If you’ve got the energy.

MARJORIE: I suppose I better look my best in case Jean-Paul stops by.

(She winks at Jon. Tess is confused.)

TESS: I brought you some new body wash. It’s got lavender and rosemary.

MARJORIE: I had a friend named Rosemary. She’s dead.

TESS: Well. What a good story.

MARJORIE (Foggy): Rosemary. It was a perfectly nice name except for that movie.

JON: You shouldn’t be sarcastic.

TESS: Why not? She was always sarcastic.

MARJORIE (Uselessly, to no one in particular): Rosemary’s Baby.

(Tess corners him in the kitchen.)

TESS (Sotto voce): We should treat her the same

JON: The same?

TESS: As always, instead of smiling like idiots whenever she mentions your beard, when we all know it meant / that you—

JON (Matter of fact): That I wasn’t good enough for you.

TESS: It meant you weren’t the right class.

(Marjorie starts to sing Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” to herself.)

MARJORIE: “If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it . . .”

JON: So you’re saying you want to remind her of her class biases / from three decades ago?

TESS: I’m just saying we shouldn’t let her turn it into this cute little routine like (Coquettish) “Oh, your beard was so scratchy.”

MARJORIE (Still singing): “If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.” What is that.

TESS: I don’t know, but you’ve been singing it for two days.

MARJORIE: “Wuh uh oh, uh uh oh”— What is that.

TESS (To Jon): I’m saying the only way she’ll stay the same is if we treat her the same.

JON: But she’s not the same, honey.

MARJORIE (Sing-song): I can hear you . . .

(They both look at her.)

The new hearing aid is excellent. Thank you for that.

TESS: Sorry, Mom. (Beat) It’s a gorgeous day. If you’re up to it after your shower, we could go for a drive. Maybe the park. The geese are back.